Diving equipment pack

ABSTRACT

A scuba gear travel bag, possessing an expandable compartment, wherein the means for expanding said compartment utilizes a zipper, having a two piece zipper tape, with separable and engagable male and female profile elements. The zipper initiates at a location on the travel bag, at or near a central point of expansion, in the expansion dimension, and spirals around the circumference of the bag, expanding generally outwardly away from the central point of expansion in a mirror image configuration. It also possesses a removable, self-storage subunit with a support template for an integrated diver&#39;s buoyancy compensator, wherein the buoyancy compensator possesses a zipper fastening means for fully engaging or disengaging the compensator from the travel bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The modern scuba diving enthusiasts have expanded the places for unique diving experiences to include caves that have, over time, filled with water or were carved from the surrounding terrain by underground rivers. Traveling to these unique and inaccessible places is made more difficult because there are no diving gear carriers that are specifically designed to be both lightweight and compact. It is common for divers to utilize a variety of bulky and oversized duffel bags to store and transport the necessary diving equipment. Often times large duffel bags employed to carry the variety of diving components (swim fins, buoyancy devices, goggles, snorkel, etc.) are conducive for travel to the above identified locations. In many circumstances the duffel bag type of carrier is inconvenient or inappropriate for the scuba diver's travel needs. First, the duffel bag type carrier is generally a large, single compartment bag. The bag is not designed for, nor does it specifically accommodate, diving equipment. The present invention is an improvement over the duffel bag type carriers commonly employed in the art by incorporating features specifically configured to accommodate diving equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the invention with fully integrated carrier bag subunit, self-enclosed storage subunit and partially expanded storage compartment configuration.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of an embodiment of the invention with fully detached carrier bag subunit and partially open self-enclosed storage subunit to expose configuration with shoulder harness.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of an embodiment of a support template with zipper fastening system.

FIG. 4 shows a back view of an embodiment of a support template with shoulder harness, waist belt, and cover panel.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of an embodiment with shoulder harness partially deployed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings, in which similar elements in different drawings bear the same reference numerals. For the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such terms as “front”, “back”, “right”, “left”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like are words of descriptive convenience to provide relative orientation and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

One configuration of the present invention reduces the weight and bulk of scuba diving gear, to make travel and handling easier.

One configuration comprises a buoyancy compensator system, possessing a support template that is design to removably attach to a travel bag. With this configuration one can save on weight and bulk. The back bag may have a variety of configurations as would be readily known in the art. The bag size is designed to meet carry on luggage limits of most airlines.

This size limitation still allows enough space for appropriate sized standard recreational dive equipment and a few personal items. The travel bag can be made expandable to provide enough room to accommodate a dive tank. This expanded configuration would also allow more room for personal items and would be useful for cave diving. Because the bag may be checked during airline flights, a cover for the harness straps is incorporated to protect the harness from damage.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a scuba gear carrier bag 100. The bag has a generally rectangular storage compartment 105. The storage compartment has a plurality of wall components that are contiguous and generally form a front panel 110, a back panel 115 (not shown), a plurality of side panels 120, a top panel 125, and a bottom panel 130. The combination of front panel 110, back panel 115, plurality of side panels 120, top panel 125, and bottom panel 130 define an external surface 132. Further, the front 110, back 115, and side 120 panels have an expandable configuration 140.

To expand the storage compartment volume in a selected dimension, a first zipper 145 is fastened to the carrier bag external surface 132 in a spiral configuration such that it travels around the circumference of the storage compartment 105. The zipper configuration is shown to spiral in the latitudinal (horizontal) direction in FIG. 1. This allows the compartment to expand in the length dimension. The zipper configuration may also function in the longitudinal (vertical) direction as well (not shown). This configuration would allow the compartment to expand in the depth dimension.

The first zipper 145 possesses a first positionable slide 145a cooperatively contacting an interlocking first two-piece zipper tape 146. The two-piece zipper tape 146 forms an upper zipper tape 146 a and a lower zipper tape 146 b. The two zipper tapes (146 a and 146 b) are configured to spiral around the external surface 130 of the storage compartment in a widening mirror image of separation. The two pieces (146 a and 146 b) incorporate male and female profile elements which are separate 147 and engaged 148 as is well known in the art. The separable and engagable function allows the compartment to expand or contract the volume of the storage compartment respectively as the zipper slide 145 a travels from the fully engaged zipper tape configuration to the fully disengaged position.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the carrier bag 100 also possesses a removable, self-enclosed storage subunit 150. In FIGS. 2-5, the carrier bag subunit 150 possesses a buoyancy compensator harness system 151 having a support template 152. The support template 152 is generally a flat component having a front face 152 a, a back face 152 b, and a generally rectangular shape which forms a perimeter 152 c. The support template is removably fastened to the carrier bag 100 by a second zipper 158.

The second zipper 158 comprises male and female profile elements which are separable and engagable as is well known in the art. The second zipper 158 also comprises a second positionable slide 158 a and a second two-piece zipper tape 159. The second two-piece zipper tape 159 possesses a first piece, mounting zipper tape 159 a, and a second piece, fastening zipper tape 159 b. The mounting zipper tape 159 a is fastened to the plurality of side panels 120, the top 125, and the back 115 panels in a configuration that cooperates with the support template 152. The fastening zipper tape 159 b is fastened at or near the perimeter 152 c of the support template 152. Further, the fastening zipper tape 159 b is oriented to the front face 152 a. The second slide 158 a is the means by which the two zipper tape pieces 159 a and 159 b are engaged or separated as is well known in the art.

It is also anticipated the configuration may utilize a variety of fastening components such as belts, clips, and latches to attain the same fastening capability as performed by the zipper fastener.

The support template 152 has a front face 152 a. A plurality of fastening systems may be utilized to removably fasten diving gear to the support template 152. The diving gear may include such items as air tanks and air bladders. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of mounting elements 170 are fixedly attached to the front face 152 a of the support template 152. In this embodiment, the mounting elements 170 are configured to have a plurality of belt loop sections 170 a that provide attachment points for a buoyancy device and air tanks as is known in the art. The fasteners could also include a variety of belts, latches, and clip systems known in the art.

As seen in FIG. 4, the support template 152 has a back face 152 b. A plurality of shoulder straps 180, which form shoulder harness 181, are fixedly attached to the back face 152 b of the support template 152. Additionally, a waist belt 185 is also fixedly attached to the support template 152.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 also depict a shoulder strap cover panel 190. The shoulder strap cover panel 190 is generally a flat component having a front face 190 a, a back face 190 b, and a generally rectangular shape which forms a perimeter 190 c. The cover panel 190 is fixedly attached to support template 152 at or near the periphery of one side of the support template's generally rectangular shape. In particular, the FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 depict the cover panel 190 fastened to the bottom edge of support template 152. The generally rectangular shapes of the support panel 152 and the cover panel 190 are generally of the same size and shape. They are configured such that the perimeter 152 c of the support panel 152 and the perimeter 190 c of the cover panel 190 are cooperatively placed to allow a third zipper 210 to reversibly fasten the two components.

The third zipper 210 comprises male and female profile elements which are separable and engagable as is well known in the art. Referring to FIG. 5, the third zipper 210 also possesses four positionable slides 210 a, 210 b, 210 c, and 210 d and a third two-piece zipper tape 215. The third two-piece zipper tape 215 possesses a first piece, primary zipper tape 215 a, and a second piece, secondary zipper tape 215 b. The primary zipper tape 215 a is fastened at or near the perimeter 152 c of the support template 152 oriented toward the back face 152 b.

The secondary zipper tape 215 b is fastened at or near the perimeter 190 c oriented toward the back face 190 b. The four zipper slides 210 a, 210 b, 210 c, and 210 d are configured in opposing pairs. Slides 210 a and 210 b form the first pair. Slides 210 c and 210 d form the second pair. As seen at a first zipper engaged configuration 220, the slides 210 a and 210 b are configured such that the male and female profile elements are fully engaged for the sub-segment 220 of zipper tape 215 that resides between slides 210 a and 210 b. Similarly, as seen at a second zipper engage configuration 225, the slides 210 c and 210 d are configured such that the male and female profile elements are fully engaged for the sub-segment 225 of zipper tape 215 that resides between slides 210 c and 210 d.

The resulting slide configuration, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, allows the shoulder harness 180 and the waist belt 185 to be exposed while the cover panel 190 may be folded to a generally planar position that is proximate parallel to the back face 152 b of the support template 152. This is a functional configuration.

This functional configuration provides utility in at least two scenarios. The first scenario is during a dive. The support template is fully disengaged from the carrier bag 100. When the cover panel 190 is in the folded position and proximate to the back face 152 c, a diver may strap on the exposed shoulder harness 181 and waist belt 185 with the cover panel 190 positioned between the diver's back and the front face 152 b of the support template 152.

Portaging is another scenario where the functional configuration is useful. The support template 152 is fully engaged with the carrier bag 100. When the cover panel 190 is in the folded position and proximate to the back face 152 c, the wearer may strap on the exposed shoulder harness 181 and waist belt 185 with the cover panel 190 positioned between the person's back and the front face 152 b of the support template 152 and utilize the system in a backpack fashion. 

1. A buoyancy compensator harness system comprising: a support template defining a front face, a back face, and a perimeter; further comprising a shoulder harness comprising a plurality of shoulder straps and a waist belt fixedly attached to said back face, and one or more zipper fasteners, fastened at or near and contiguous with the support template perimeter.
 2. The buoyancy compensator harness system of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder strap cover panel reversibly fastened to said support template.
 3. The buoyancy compensator harness system of claim 2 comprising a zipper with a plurality of positionable zipper slides reversibly fastening said cover panel to said support template.
 4. A scuba gear travel bag, comprising: a generally rectangular storage compartment, having a plurality of wall components, defining an internal space and an external surface, the wall components are generally contiguous and form a front panel, a back panel, a plurality of side panels, a top panel, and a bottom panel, wherein the front, back, and side panels cooperatively engage a zipper comprising: a zipper slide cooperatively contacting interlocking teeth on a two-piece zipper tape, the two-piece zipper tape forming an upper zipper tape piece and a lower zipper tape piece, said pieces incorporating male and female profile elements which are separable and engagable; wherein the zipper tape initiates at a position in a selected expansion dimension, the zipper upper tape and lower tape pieces are configured to spiral around the external surface of the bag in a widening mirror image configuration from the point of initiation.
 5. A scuba gear carrier bag of claim 4 comprising: a support template defining a front face, a back face, and a perimeter; further comprising a shoulder harness comprising a plurality of shoulder straps and a waist belt fixedly attached to said back face, and one or more zipper fasteners, fastened at or near and contiguous with the support template perimeter.
 6. A scuba gear carrier bag of claim 5 comprising: a shoulder strap cover panel reversibly fastened to said support template.
 7. A scuba gear carrier bag of claim 6 comprising: a zipper with a plurality of positionable zipper slides reversibly fastening said cover panel to said support template. 